Kenny Dalglish has told under-fire Rangers stars they can't hide behind Giovanni van Bronckhorst.
The Celtic and Liverpool legend reckons sacking the beleaguered Ibrox boss at this stage would be the wrong decision from the club hierarchy - as he believes the Champions League is not the arena in which the Dutchman should ultimately be judged. Dalglish insists he can't see chairman Douglas Park and the Ibrox board pulling the trigger on Van Bronckhorst at this stage, even if he is "embarrassed" by what transpired in Wednesday's 7-1 demolition from the Reds.
But he conceded that, with Celtic five clear at the Premiership summit, three points against Motherwell on Sunday is now non-negotiable. Rangers have been beset by injury issues in recent weeks and Van Bronckhorst confirmed on Saturday that Connor Goldson would be sidelined for months after limping off against Liverpool. Dalglish insists Van Bronckhorst's toiling stars must pick themselves up off the floor as he warned they cannot use their manager as a shield.
He wrote in the Sunday Post: "It doesn’t surprise me that some Rangers supporters want Giovanni van Bronckhorst sacked on the back of the 7-1 defeat to Liverpool. In this day and age, with the madness of social media platforms and radio phone-ins right after the full-time whistle, it’s those who are disgruntled that shout the loudest.
"But I don’t agree with it. The Light Blues manager should not be judged on what happened at Ibrox on Wednesday night.
"Sacking Giovanni is the easy option – but it wouldn’t be the right call. Ultimately, it’s down to the hierarchy in the Blue Room, and what they feel is the best way forward for their football club.
"Do they want Giovanni at the helm, or not? Do they want him to be the man to be in charge when there is the opportunity to make signings in the January window? There is no doubt that chairman, Douglas Park, and his directors will be unhappy and embarrassed about that scoreline. But they don’t strike me as being the type to pull the trigger at this stage.
"It’s time for everyone connected to Rangers – players, management, the board and supporters – to take a deep breath. Have a proper analysis of where improvements can be made, and then get on with implementing their findings as quickly as possible.
"That may take time and patience. But the immediate priority is getting a victory at Fir Park this afternoon. Rangers can’t afford to drop points to Motherwell, and it’s up to captain, James Tavernier, and his team-mates to get it right.
"Sure, managers always carry the can. Rightly or wrongly, that’s the way it’s always been and always will be. But the players must stand up and take responsibility. They must show character and leadership in their own right. They can’t hide behind Giovanni and let him take all the flak."
